“That one can convince one’s opponents with printed reasons, I have not believed since the year 1764. It is not for that purpose that I have taken up my pen, but rather merely to annoy them, and to give strength and courage to those on our side, and to make it known to the others that they have not convinced us.”
G.C. Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799), courtesy of 'Deogolwulf'

Monday, 05 June 2017

The U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords - really?

During my morning meanderings around the web, I was caught by a story at The American Thinker by Mr. Ed Straker. In it, he reports that the US Navy is about to name a new warship after the former and ultra liberal Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords. She, you will recall, was the unfortunate victim of a street shooting in which nineteen people were hit and six of them killed. Mrs. Giffords suffered severe brain damage from which she is slowly, very slowly, recovering.

However, as Mr. Straker reminds us, Mrs. Giffords was an extremely active leader in the gun control movement which sought, and still does, to deny the ownership of guns to private citizens which, as it turns out, was a real misfortune in this case because if people in the crowd had been armed the gunman might well have been downed earlier and lives saved. In fact, if he had suspected that people might have been armed the killer might have hesitated to attack in the first place.

The other question Mr. Straker raises is why an armed naval warship should be named after Mrs. Giffords? Every town in America has a memorial to countless numbers of servicemen who died fighting for their country and who deserve the honour far more than she does. He avers that he would be perfectly happy if an un-armed navy ship was named after her because that would at least show a commonality of purpose and spirit.

Finally, and I suspect this is mainly what has stuck in his craw, he reports that yet another, er, 'distinguished' lady is to attend the naming of this warship - Hillary Clinton - who else?

Comments

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David, you seem extra crotchety the last few days. Was the paint dry when you moved back into the house or have you been breathing fumes? It is outrageous everyone doesn't hate liberals, but why aren't you more worried about your own Ms May, who wants to curtail freedoms of speech and increase government control over the internet?

Bob, I don't hate 'liberals' and I certainly don't hate Mrs. Giffords. It's just that, like Mr. Straker, I cannot think of a single reason why the lady should be honoured in this way given the length of the queue of people who deserve, and have earned, the right to precede her.

And don't get me started on Mrs. May or I really will get mega-crotchety!

Well it is an LCS so "unarmed" and "ineffective" are the politest terms you can use for this floating monstrosity. Within the same time that over 30 "Perry" class were built, the Septics have managed four, all of which have had major issues over propulsion, weaponry and sensors. Perhaps naming this one after a liberal like her is a backhanded comment upon the whole LCS debacle.

David, Straker's argument is spurious. Navy ships are named after states, cities (including Chicago), and one is named "Chinook" after either Native Americans or a sled dog. Giffords didn't necessarily displace a deserving military person:

Michael, thanks for that, as an ex-Corporal (substantive, mind!) I had no idea what an 'LCS' was but now I know a little more. Alas, even as dumb as I am, I will not make the mistake of offering an opinion on this particular example!

Bob, not quite so, from what I read:

"The names for new ships are personally decided by the Secretary of the Navy. ... Cruisers were named for cities while destroyers came to be named for American naval leaders and heroes, as today's destroyers are still named. Starting in 1931 submarines were named for "fish and denizens of the deep."

And to find the idea of naming a warship after this particular lady as somewhat ludicrous does not entail "personal hatred or resentment for liberals". After all, is it not time a ship was named after our very own special correspondent, 'JK', whose service in the US Navy was such that he still bears the scars today!

Michael if that is a photo of the vessel in question it is not "unarmed". It has a highly visible turret mounted gun near the bow. I suspect the hatch just for'd of the bridge conceals a missile installation and from the helicopter pad on the aft deck it probably carries whatever the US navy currently uses as an attack chopper.

I suppose I could Google the class and see if I am anywhere near right.